Old money Miami country club is so exclusive that Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez and Ivanka Trump have all been unable to join
One of Miami’s old-money country clubs is so exclusive that even Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez and Ivanka Trump have reportedly been denied membership.
Located on the ultrawealthy enclave of Indian Creek, known as ‘Billionaire Bunker’ thanks to its mega rich residents, the Indian Creek Country Club is one of America’s most exclusive organizations.
Residents of Florida’s ‘Billionaire Bunker’ include the likes of NFL legend Tom Brady, music icon Julio Iglesias and businessman Carl Icahn. It charges a $1 million initiation fee and $44,000-a-month per member, which the Bezoses and Trumps can easily afford.
But admission to the exclusive country club has proven to be quite the challenge for many of the new money billionaires who have flocked to the island in the Sunshine State.
Founded in 1929, the club features a private 18-hole golf course, a Mediterranean villa style clubhouse and a swimming pool with views of the Miami skyline from Biscayne Bay, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Information about the club is so tight lipped, it does not have a social media presence and its website homepage is just a login screen for members.
Members of the roughly 350-person club consist largely of the island locals who have lived there for generations including doctors, real-estate developers, entrepreneurs, attorneys and financiers.
In February, Bezos and Sanchez, who own three properties on the island, attended the annual dock party with the hopes of impressing the board members, people who attended the event told the WSJ.
Indian Creek Country Club is one of America’s most exclusive organizations. The club features a private 18-hole golf course, a Mediterranean villa style clubhouse and a swimming pool with views of the Miami skyline
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez reportedly attended a party in February hoping to gain admission to the club, but have not been invited to join
Although many of the club members lined up to shake the Amazon founder’s hand, six months later he has still not received an invitation to join the club.
Jared and Ivanka, who own a $30 million property on the island, have also reportedly struggled to get admission to the club.
Members told the newspaper that Mary Anne Shula, the widow of Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, sponsored the couple for membership.
She hosted a cocktail party to introduce the president’s daughter and son-in-law to the club’s board.
However, allegedly only half of the board showed up, and the couple still has not been offered admission to the club.
The Journal reported that the power couple are edging closer towards admission, thanks to community-minded Kushner’s heavy involvement in a project to build a new sewer for Indian Creek.
‘Most communities you buy a home, you become a member of the club, and this community doesn’t fall in line with that,’ Dina Goldentayer, a real-estate agent who has sold homes on the island, told the WSJ.
‘It’s the most exclusive single-family home community, it’s the most exclusive private members club.’
The process to join the club starts with a sponsorship from two current members, and letters of recommendation from five others.
Ivanka Trump, who owns a home on the island with her husband Jared Kushner, have also reportedly be denied
Indian Creek Country Club is located on the ultrawealthy enclave of Indian Creek (pictured), which is known as ‘Billionaire Bunker’ thanks to it’s mega rich residents
Then, after impressing other members, the club’s six membership committee members will determine if a person is up for nomination.
At that point, the board of directors, which is made up of 15 members and led by the country club’s president, former AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, vote, a source told the newspaper.
